Tetra Pak makes headway in achieving environmental goals

Tetra Pak has shown its commitment to environment, with several accomplishments in packaging design, a lower carbon footprint, and more recycling efforts in 2013.  The Forest Stewardship Council? (FSC?) certified company has increased its use of renewable materials made from wood and sugarcane and other natural sources, from 38% in 2012 to 41% in 2013. In terms of packaging with the FSC label, the volume reached 32 billion, up by 5 billion compared to the previous year.

Tetra Pak plans to develop packaging that is renewable through and through. In 2013, it launched the LightCap? 30 made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) that came from sugar cane. The company has recorded 1.1 billion packages that use this new bio-based cap, which is nearly twice the figure noted for 2012.

Another product, the Tetra Brik Aseptic^? Edge touts an ergonomic shape that scores high on environmental features – a product-to-package ratio that is about 11% lighter and a 30% thinner aluminium foil barrier. It also creates 23% less carbon emissions from materials.

By 2020, Tetra Pak expects to double its global recycling rate by 40% by increasing the recycling of beverage cartons. To achieve this, the company will enhance consumer awareness, spread its expertise as well as help improve collection infrastructure and support recycling technology development. In 2013, it saw recycling rate grow to 24.5%, with 43 billion cartons recycled – higher by 4 billion from the year before.

The company aims to limit climate impact across the value chain at 2010 levels by 2020 whilst expanding the business. It has set in place the development and audit of an accounting and reporting system in line with the Green House Gas Protocol Corporate Value Chain standard. Between 2010 and 2013, Tetra Pak reduced the climate emissions from its own operations by 2,000 tons CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent), whilst achieving a 12% growth in the number of packages sold.  It reports the progress of its climate programme publically through CDP.

In 2013, Tetra Pak improved the CDP score from 77 to 91, which is considered very high, compared to an industry average 49.  CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) is an independent non-for-profit organization that supports companies to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information.

The Denton, Texas packaging material facility successfully improved its climate efficiency by 1.3% in 2013 whilst output from the Denton facility grew 3%.